Mine-hoist signal system and switch



Dec. 17, 1929.

M. W. RUSSEY MINE HOIST SIGNAL SYSTEM AND SWITCH mmm/ Filed May'27. 19245 Sheets-Sheet M. W. RUSSEY MINE HOIST SIGNAL SYSTEM AND SWITCH Dec. 17,1929.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27. 1924 JMW@ wimax? Dec. 17, 1929. M. w.RUssEY MINE HOIST SIGNAL SYSTEM AND SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 27,1924 haer/Z271 gm, M MM d@ Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE MERRELL IV. RUSSEY, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, .ASSIGNOR TOUNITED STATES SMELTING, REFINING &; MINING COMPANY, 0F PORTLAND,IIIAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE MINE-HOIST SIGNAL SYSTEMy AND SWITCHAppncanon mea May 27,

The cage moving signals should be given only by the cage tender asotherwise confusion and serious accidents may occur and in some.

systems provision is made for preventing the accidental operation of themoving signal switches by ignorant or unauthorized persons. y l

y With the present system a single switch at each `level is used tooperate both the cage calling and cage moving signals. Normally theswitch when operated gives the calling signals and means is connectedwith each i switch which is under the` exclusive control of the cagetender and by which he may cut that switch4 out of the callcircuit andinclude it temporarily in the moving signal circuit' so that when heoperates it, it will give the moving signals to the. engineer in thehoist room. The signal switch is preferably a pull switch normally inthe calling circuit and connected with an auxiliary switch, preferably ajack and plug switch located at the lend of the main switch pull, whichincludes the main switch inthe call circuit and cuts it out of themoving signal circuit when the plug is out and cuts it out of thecallingl circuit and includes it in the moving signal circuit when theplug is in. lith this construction the plug of the auxiliary switch maybe attached to the belt of a cage tender so that it will be convenientlyat hand whenever it is to be inserted into the jack and thus connect themain switch to operate the cage moving signals. If for any reason thecage tender neglects to withdraw the plug or in oase the car startsbefore he has time to remove the plug after finishing his signal to theengineer, the flexible pull of the main pull switch merely swings intoline with 1924. `seran Nofneass.

the attachment toA his belt and the plug is automatically pulled fromthe switch by the movement of the cage and the main switch thusautomatically restored to normal action so that it will sound callsignals when operated. This form of main and auxiliary switch may beused with advantage even in systems in which separate switches are usedfor the call Vand cage moving signals since it will effectively guardagainst unauthorized and improperoperation of the moving signals and atthe `same time will avoid danger of injury tothe cage tender.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichFigure 1 is a diagrammatic `view showing a mine hoist signal systemembodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a main signalingand auxiliary switch; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;Fig. 4 is a det-ail on a somewhat larger scale showing the arrangementof the contact fingers of the main and auxiliary switches and indicatingthe wiring connecting the lingers; Fig. 5 is a plan view on line 5 5,Fig. 4, indicatingy the mannerin which the main switch is connected withvthe supply conductor through which the yelectric current is suppliedand with the conductors of the cage calling and cage moving signalVcircuits; Fig. 6 is a View on line 6 6 of 4, showing thecontacts of theplug and jack auxiliary switch with the plug removed; and Fig. 7.is asimilar view with the pluginserted.

In the diagram shown in Figure 1, 2 indicates the cage or one of thecages adapted to be raised and lowered in the shaft of a mine through ahoisting .cable 4 which is connected with a hoisting engine in the hoistroom at the head of the shaft. 1 At each station er level oi' the shafta signaling pull switch 6 is installed in position where it may beconveniently reached by the cage/tenderV without leavingthe cage. Theswitch is connected through a wire 8 with the conductor 10 through whichthe electric current is supplied as through a transformer or battery 12which is grounded at 14. The switch is also connected through the wire16 with the conductor y13 of the. call signal circuit and through themoving signal circuit. The conductor 18 oi the call circuit is connectedat each level or station with a call signal 24, each of which isgrounded as at 26 and are thus connected in parallel in the circuit andare each sounded when the switch is operated to send the electriccurrent through the conductor 18. The call circuit may also and usuallywill have a signal 24 located inthe hoist room to indicate to theengineer thatthe cage is wanted at a given level or for a given purposeindicated by the signals. The cage `movingsignal circuit is connectedwith a'signal 28 in the hoist room and is grounded at80 so that when anyswitch 6 is operated to send the electric current through the conductor22, the'cage moving signal will fbe operated in the hoistroom.

Each switch 6 is normally connected so that'it is Ainthe callcircuitandis cut out-0f the cage moving signalfcircuit and operation ot the switchat any station-orfvleveloperates the'call signals to indicatefthat the'cage is wanted aty afgiven station'. The cage tender carries aspecialplug 82 'whichhe may'` insert in the jacl184 of anauxiliaryaclrand-plug switch which ifs-carried by the lower end of the pull36`through which the main switch is operated when he wishes fto signal'theengineerto move the cage. Insertion `of the plug cuts theniain-switclicut of the callcircuit and includes it in thefcage movingsignal circuit so thatlthe cage tender may operate the.

switch to signal the engineer. After the cage tender has given thesignal'he removes the plug troi'nfthe auxiliary switch, thus cutting itout of the cage .moving signalcircuit and restoring ititofthercagecalling circuit. The plug may, as indicated, kbe attached to thebelt olfthe cage tender andy ifhe. neglects to remove it, the iiexiblepull 86 willmerely swing upwardor downward into `positien to Vpermit themovement ofy the cage to withdraw the plugf-without danger to' thezrcagetender. As only thecage tender allowed tocarry one ofthe special plugs,it is practically impossible for vanyone else to give the signal to movethe cage.

The construction ofthe main land auxiliary switches and thednanner in'which they are connectedfwith the current' supply conductorandconductors ot' thcicage calling and cage moving signal.- circuitsisillustrated in Figures'2 to'.. T he main :switch Ais enclosed within"afhousing 38 andlcomprises a lower contact" linger blockv 40` carryingthe contact fingers 42,144, 46 and 48-and the upper contact finger.`block. 50 carryingl the contact lingers 52, 54,56and1'58. The lowerblock is secured onthe plate which closes the lower end 01"' the casingandthe upper block is secured to a flange 62on theupper end et a tubularswitchrod 64v which extends down tliroughfthe block 40 and down througha spring'socket` 66'carried by the plate 60. The

` switch rod-is lheld normally inraised position with the contactlingers on the upper block out of engagement with the contact lingers onthe lower block by a spring 68 within the socket 66 and engaging aflange 70 which is welded to the rod. The rod is held from rotation byguide pins 72 engaging notches in the flange 70. A hose pipe or otherilexible tube 74 is secured to the lower end of the switch rod 64 andforms a-flexible'pull by which the rod may be operated to engage thecontact fingers oit the switch, the fingers being innnediatelyVdisengaged by the expansion ot the spring when the pull is released. Theauxiliary switchcarried within a housing 7 6 is attached to the lowerend of the hose or tube 74 by means of a tube 78 secured in the upperend of the housing and projecting into the lower end of the hose. Theauxiliary switch which is of the jack and plug type comprises a contactfinger block 8O mounted within the housing 76 and carrying two pairs ofspring contact ingers 82, 84 and 86, 88, and a plug key 90 adapted topass through a hole inthe block 80. The contact fingers 82, 84 arenormally in contact while the pair ot. contact iingers 86, 88 are outotcontact and spaced apart. The block is provided with a` sleeve o'lAinsulating material 92 which, when the plug is inserted, passes betweenthe contacts 82, 84 and disengages and separates them and is alsoprovided with a metallic collar 9.4 which, whenthe plug is inserted,engages the pair of contacts 86, 88 and thus brings-them into electricalconnection.

The lower contacts 42, 44 of the main switch are provided with bindingscrews 96 which they are connected to the wire 8 leading from the supplyconductor 10. The lower contact 46 is provided with a bindingl screw 98by.

which itLis connected to the wire 16 leading to the conductor 18 of thecall circuit and the lower contact 48 is provided with a binding screw1GO by whichit is connected to the wire 20 leading to the conductor 22ot the cage moving signal circuit. The upper contacts 52, 54 whichengage the supply contacts 42, 44 are connected by binding nuts 102 withthe upper. endsot a wire 1.04, the lower ends of which are 'connected bybinding screws 106 with the spring contacts and 86 ot' the auxiliaryswitch. The upper contact 56 which engages the call contact 46 isconnected by a binding nut 108 with the upper end ot a wire 110, thelower end otwhich is connected by binding screw 112 with the springcontact finger 84 ot the auxiliary switch. The upper contact 58 whichengages the cage moving signal Contact 48 is connected by a binding nut114 with the upper end ot a wire 116, the lower end of which isconnected by a binding' screw 1 8 to the spring eo.- Lact finger 88 ofthe auxiliary switch. The wires connecting the upper contacts oilv themain switch and the spring contacts etr the auxiliary switch pass downthrough the hollow rod 64, flexible pipe 74, and hollow tube 7 8 of themain switch pull.

Under normal conditions with the plug 90 of the auxiliary switchwithdrawn, the main switch is in the call circuit since the springcontact fingers 82 and 84 are in engagement, and is cut out of the 'cagemoving signal cir-` cuit since the spring contact fingers 86, 88 are outof engagement andbreak the circuit at this point when the main switch isoperated to bring its two sets of' contact fingers Upon engagement ofthe` ycontacts of the main switch, the electric curinto engagement.

rent flows from the supply wire 8 through contacts 42, 44 and 52, 54,through the wire 104, contact fingers 82, 84, wire 110, contacts 46, 56,and through wire. 16 tothe conductor 18 of the call circuit so thatthecall signals are operated at the different stations. When the cagetender inserts his key plug 90 into the jack of the auxiliary switch,the spring contact fingers 82, 84 are separated and electricallydisengaged, thus cutting the main switch out of the call circuit whilethe spring contact fingers 86 and 88 are electrically connected, thusbringing the main switch into the cage moving signal circuit. Now whenthe cage tender operates the main switch to bring its contact lingersrinto engagement, the current flows from the supply wire 8 through thecontacts 42, 52 and 44, 54 and through the,

i wire 104 to the contact 86, thence through the metallic sleeve 94 tothe contact 88 from which it flows up through the wire 116 to thecontact`58 and thenceI through the contact 48 and through the wire 2O tothe conductor 22 of the cage moving signal circuit so that the cagemoving signal is operated in the hoist room. switch is returned tonormal condition in the call circuit and is cut out of the cage movingsignal circuit.

The switch may be provided with a flash signal in the form of anelectric lamp indicated at 120 and wired to flash each time the switchis operated to close the cage moving signal circuit. The front of theswitch casing is provided with a window 122 through which the flashsignal is visible to the tender and indicates to him that the switch isoperating properly.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in connectionwith its application to a single compartment shaft in which a singlecage operates, it can be readily applied to multiple compartment shaftsby the installation of additional switches connected to the supplyconductor and controlling the supply of current to additional call andcage moving signal circuits.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. A mine hoist signal systemcomprising a cage call circuit, a cagemoving signal circuit, a manually operable signal switch at eachlevelnormally in the call circuit, and

Vhen the plug isr removed, the mainv cluding it in the cage movingsignal circuit.

3. A mine hoist signal system comprising a cage call circuit, a cagemoving signal circuit, a signal pull switch at each level and Va jackand plug auxiliary switch for each signal switch, means connecting thesignal switch and the jack and plug switch to inc-lude the signal switchin the call circuit and cut it out of the cage moving signal circuitwhen the plug is out and to include the signal switch in the cage movingsignal circuit and to cut it out of the call circuit when the plug isin.

4. A mine hoist signal system comprising a cage call circuit, a cagemoving signal circuit, a signal switch at each level, having a switchpulito actuate it, a jack and plug switch at the end of the switch pull,means connecting the signal switch and the jack and plug switch toinclude the signal switch in the callcircuit and cut it out of the cagemoving signal circuit when the plug is out and to include the signalswitch in the cage moving signal circuit and to cut it out of the callcircuit when the plug is in. r

5. A mine hoist signal system comprising a cage call circuit, a cagemoving signal circuit, a signal switch at each level normallydisconnected from the cage moving signal circuit, means including `ajack and plug for connecting the signal switch with the cage movingsignal circuit, and flexible meaiisfor supporting the jack to permit theplug, if' moving with the cage, to be withdrawn by the movement of thecage.

G. A mine hoist signal system comprising a cage call circuit, a cagemoving signal circuit, a signal switch at each level having a switchpull to actua-te it, an auxiliary jack and plug switch at the end of thesignal switch pull, and electrical connections between the signal switchand the jack and plug switch to include the signal switch in the circuitwhen the plug is in `and to cut it out of the circuit when the plug isout. y

7. A signal switch comprising a main switch having a pair of relativelymovable contacts, an auxiliary plug and ack switch having a pair ofcontacts which are closed when the plug` is out and open when the plugis in, an electrical connection between one of the contacts of the mainswitch and one of the contacts of the auxiliary switch, an additionalContact for the auxiliary switch which is` out of engagement with thefirst named contacts thereof, and means for electrically connecting theadditional contact of 'the auxiliary switch with said electricalconnection between the main switch and the auX- iliary switch when theplug is in.

8. A signal switch organization compris ing a main switch includinga setof four stationary and aI set of four cooperating movable contacts, pullmeans for moving said movable contacts into engagement with saidstationary contacts, an auxiliary plug andl jack switch at the end ofpull means including a set of normally closedfcontact-s and a set or'normally open contacts, a plurality of conductors in said pull, oneconnecting two of said movable contacts of said main switch witlronecontact of. each of said sets of contacts of said plug switch, oneconnecting the other of said normally closed contacts to the thirdmovable contacts of the main switch and one connecting the other of saidnormally open contacts of said plug switch to the fourth movablecontact.

9. The combination with a supply conductor and'two separate circuitconductors of a signal switch comprising a main switch having contactsconnected with said conductors, normally disengaged cooperatingcontacts, a pull for engaging the two sets of contacts, an auxiliaryswitch at the end of the pull comprising a pair of normally engagedcontacts, connections between said contacts and the contacts of the mainswitch which cooperate with a supply contact and one of the circuitcontacts, a pair of normally disengaged contacts, connect-ions betweenSaid contacts and the contacts of the main switch which cooperate with asupply contact and the other circuit contactand a plug key forseparating the normally engaged contacts and electrically connectingvthe normally disengaged contacts.

l0. In a signal switch the combination with a supply conductoro'f a mainswitch con,- nected therewith, an auxiliary plug and jack switch havinga pair of contacts which are closed when the plug is out and open whenthe plug is in, anda second pair of contacts which are open when theplug is out and closed when the plug is in, an electrical connectionbetween one of the contacts of each pair and the main switch, and a pairof separate conductors one connected to the other contact ot the firstpair and the other conductor connected to the other Contact of thesecond pair.

M. W. RUSSEY.

